the big 2-3

It's my birthday. The 28th of September. I'm turning 23 years old, which really means nothing, since I will continue to be "twenty-something." However, I do want to say some parting words to 22, because I'm glad I survived. At 21, I jumped off a cliff. Graduated from college early, moved to Spain, started from nothing with the enthusiasm of...a 21 year-old. If at 21 I jumped off a cliff, then 22 was the freefall. I ate too much, drank too much, stayed up too late, and probably wore too little clothing. While doing these inappropriate things, I also held down a respectable job (teaching preschoolers makes you adorable and responsible), and did my best not to think too hard about the future. 22 went by quickly, hazily, and not quite painlessly. There were the inevitable transitional growing pains, from the life of a student to the life of a struggling-to-be-financially independent ex-pat. Balancing my budget, putting a little money away, trying to make friends. This sounds like some kind of sitcom, and it's totally cliché. But it's a cliché for a reason. Everyone gets lost, no one's really sure what they're supposed to be doing. Does everyone type "what to do with life" into google? We all have our paths, and some of us chose to ask the internet for its sage advice (apparently going to India is a very popular life plan). But, 22 is gone now. And I chose to see it out the door in the only appropriate way: by going out for four days straight as a lead up to the big day. I now have a cold, which I passed to everyone in the English department. 22 was exhausting. But the freefall, I hope, is over. I'm not saying I'm where I want to be, or even close. I will say, however, that flailing and trying to grab onto anything that feels solid is no longer my best plan. Here's to taking a year to get some direction. It's up to you to use it, 23.

the readjustment.

This trip to Madrid was supposed to be an easy one, free of any kind of culture shock. I've been living here for a year and a half total, so I thought I was more than well-adjusted. For goodness sake, I was eating a giant lunch at three everyday, and mixing pieces of ham into my peas (the unnecessary ham is the give-away in Spanish cuisine). After spending a month in the United States, however, I think some back-sliding into old habits snuck up on me. For example, I was pretty content to walk at a moderate, occasionally slow pace in the city. Even in New York, I wasn't racing like I used to when I lived there, which probably annoyed many New Yorkers. But one day back here, and I nearly punched some old lady in the back of the head for walking too slowly. In the past month, I've picked up a bad case of sidewalk rage. But sidewalk rage is only one example. I have a strange desire to walk in the street and drink a beverage at the same time. And I would like that beverage to be quite large, maybe even iced, but that's not a requirement. Of course, here, if you ask for a coffee to go, you get some strange looks. Looks that say: "Where are you going that's soooo important that you can't drink this coffee here?" As if there is nowhere that could be THAT important.
In all fairness, though, I had a little trouble adjusting to New York after being gone for more than a year. I forgot that no one has vacation. No one takes breaks, either. While trying to meet up with all of my friends, I asked if anybody could meet for lunch. "I don't take a lunch break" is the response I got from many of my friends. Suddenly, I remembered why I took a break from New York: I love lunch, and while I may like carrying my coffee with me, I definitely don't like eating my sandwich on the subway. Give me three hour lunches all day, every day.

studying for the fsot

Looking at the title for this entry, most of you may think...what is the FSOT? I'm hoping some of you googled it, which would tell you that I'm studying for the Foreign Service Officer Test (I bolded the letters so that you can see that they match!). Follow up question: Is that a real thing, or is it something you are pretending to do to seem like you have a plan? Well, doubters/parents, it is a real thing. In fact, it's the test you have to pass to be able to work abroad representing the United States in an embassy. Apparently, it's very difficult (I know because Wikipedia told me so), so I've been reading some books off the Suggested Reading List, provided by the US Government. That's right, the government recommends that you read books. Surprisingly, A People's History of the United States didn't make the cut, but Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 did. So far, this is the book I have enjoyed the most (A Peace to End All Peace, about the fall of the Ottoman Empire was really boring...shocking, I know). If you are looking for a book that will develop your biceps and your brain, then look no further! At over 1000 pages, even in paperback this bad boy is a pain to carry around on the subway. But did you know the percentage of Italians who had fridges in 1954? 4%. And in 1977, just 23 years later? 94%. (I actually found this really, really interesting, in all seriousness). Why? You'll just have to read the book for the thrilling conclusion. I just can't wait to find out what happens!